Cyril J. Ross OBE ROI (1891-1973) - Early 20th Century Oil Red Earth

Description

A dramatic and dynamic arable scene showing a farming, tilling the vibrant red earth of a stubble field with his three striking black cart horses. The artist has used and impasto, gestural technique to create texture in the earth and surrounding foliage. The artist has signed and dated to the lower left corner and the painting has been presented in a 20th Century plaster frame with naive scrolling ornamentation, swept rail and corners. There are several labels at the reverse with the artist's information and title of the painting. The artist has also signed to the reverse of the canvas. On canvas.

Condition

The condition is typical for a picture of this age including some discolouration. The frame has a distressed effect that compliments the red tones of the painting.

Size

49.5 x 74.5cm (19.5" x 29.3")
Framed Size: 64.5 x 90cm (25.4" x 35.4")

Artist Biography

Cyril Joshua Ross (né Miselevich) was born into a Lithuanian-Jewish family in Stepney, London, England in 1891. A successful businessman and philanthropist, he was the owner of the West End furriery store Swears & Wells and, as Ben Uri's long standing Treasurer, provided secure storage in the vaults for the Ben Uri Collection during the Second World War. He also served as treasurer of both the Zangwill Fellowship and the Jewish National Fund. He was a prominent figure in Jewish circles and helped in many causes: offering support to impecunious fellow artists including Alfred Lomnitz (known as 'Lom'), and as President of the Soup Kitchen for the Jewish Poor, for more than 30 years, keeping it running throughout the Second World War; in 1947 he was awarded the OBE for his services.

Ross was also a successful self-taught amateur artist, only beginning to paint, in a traditional manner, at the age of 40, but then participating in exhibitions at the Whitechapel Art Gallery (1945), Galerie Bernheim Jeune, Paris (1951), the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours, London (1952), the Royal Institute Galleries (1954) and at Ben Uri in 1968 and 1972 - the latter celebrating his 80th birthday. He died in London, England in 1973.